Sliding shell package for smoking articles and method

Abstract

Smoking articles, such as filter cigarettes, are packaged in a metal box which is curved to a shape that conforms to the curvature of the human body so that the box can be comfortably carried in a shirt or pant pocket. The metal box comprises a lid and a five-sided tray each of which has rolled lips which interengage to mechanically and slidably retain the lid to the tray. The lid covers the open front of the tray and is slidable along an arcuate path corresponding to the radius of curvature of the lid to selectively open or close the front of the tray. The metal box is sealed with a shrinkable band, further packaged in a paperboard box and overwrapped with a polymeric film having a tear tape. The package is unique and attractive and provides several product differentiation features.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A package for containing articles comprising: 
       a curved metal box having a tray portion with an open front and a lid portion slidable back-and-forth over the open front of the tray to open and close the tray portion, the tray portion having a curved back surface with a concave exterior and the lid portion having a curved front surface with a convex exterior, the tray and lid portions being formed of a thin sheet metal and at least one of the tray portion or the lid portion having an outwardly extending lip and the other of the tray portion or the lid portion having an inwardly extending lip, said lips slidably engaging one another to allow the lid portion to slide back and forth over the open front of the tray portion,  
       a band shrunk around said tray and lid portions of the metal box in tamperproof relation over the front of the tray portion, said band having perforations therein for tearing the band and removing it from the metal box,  
       a folded paperboard box in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped containing said metal box, wherein said paperboard box has an open front with a front panel hinged to the paperboard box along a fold line, said front panel covering only a portion of the open front of the paperboard box, and  
       a polymeric overwrap film overwrapping the paperboard box.  
     
     
       2. The package of  claim 1 , wherein said articles are cigarettes. 
     
     
       3. The package of  claim 1 , wherein said lid portion has product differentiation indicia embossed therein. 
     
     
       4. The package of  claim 1 , wherein said tray and lid portions each have a four-sided perimeter, said outwardly and inwardly extending lips comprising an outwardly rolled lip around the entire perimeter of the open front of the tray portion and an inwardly rolled lip on only three of the four sides of the perimeter of the lid portion. 
     
     
       5. The package of  claim 4 , wherein one side of the perimeter of the lid portion and portions of the two sides of the perimeter of the lid portion adjacent said one side have rolled flattened edges. 
     
     
       6. The package of  claim 5 , wherein the outwardly rolled lips and flattened edges of the tray and lid portions engage in sealing, metal-to-metal contact. 
     
     
       7. The package of  claim 1 , wherein said overwrap film is a transparent polymeric film, said paperboard box having product indicia applied thereto. 
     
     
       8. The package of  claim 1 , wherein said front panel has a free edge shaped to provide product differentiation or product origin information. 
     
     
       9. The package of  claim 1 , where said thin sheet of metal is a steel or aluminum alloy having a thickness between about 0.005 inch and 0.015 inch. 
     
     
       10. The package of  claim 1 , wherein the radius of curvature of the midpoint between the tray and lid portions is about 200 millimeters. 
     
     
       11. A cigarette package comprising: 
       a curved metal box having a tray portion with an open front and a lid portion slidable back-and-forth over the open front of the tray to open and close the tray portion, the tray and lid portions having, respectfully, a concave and a convex exterior surface, the tray and lid portions being formed of a thin sheet metal and having interengaging lips for slidable engaging the lid portion with the tray portion, a band shrunk around the tray and lid portions of the curved metal box to retain the lid portion in closed, tamperproof relation over the front of the tray portion; and  
       a paperboard box having a rectangular parallelepiped shape containing said curved metal box, said paperboard box having an open front and a front panel covering a portion of the open front of the paperboard box, and a polymeric overwrap film overwrapping the paperboard box.  
     
     
       12. The cigarette package of  claim 11 , including a tear tape disposed about said overwrap film for removing the overwrap film from the paperboard box, and wherein said band includes perforations therein for tearing the band and removing it from the curved metal box. 
     
     
       13. The cigarette package of  claim 11 , wherein said front panel has a free edge shaped to provide product differentiation or product origin information. 
     
     
       14. A cigarette package comprising: 
       a curved box having a tray portion with an open front and a lid portion slidable back-and-forth over the open front of the tray to open and close the tray portion, the tray and lid portions having, respectfully, a concave and a convex exterior surface, each said surface having a radius of curvature between about 100 and 800 millimeters, the tray and lid portions having interengaging lips for slidably engaging the lid portion with the tray portion, a band shrunk around the tray and lid portions of the curved box to retain the lid portion in sealed relation over the front of the tray portions, said band having perforation therein for tearing and removing it from the curved box;  
       a paperboard box having a rectangular parallelepiped shape containing said curved box, said paperboard box having an open front and a front panel covering a portion of the open front of the paperboard box, said front panel having a free edge shaped to provide product differentiation or product origin information; and  
       a polymeric overwrap film overwrapping the paperboard box and a tear tape disposed about said overwrap film for removing the overwrap film from the paperboard box.  
     
     
       15. A package for containing articles comprising: 
       a curved metal box having a tray portion with an open front and a lid portion slidable back-and-forth over the open front of the tray to open and close the tray portion, the tray portion having a curved back surface with a concave exterior and the lid portion having a curved front surface with a convex exterior, the tray and lid portions being formed of a thin sheet metal and at least one of the tray portion or the lid portion having an outwardly extending lip and the other of the tray portion or the lid portion having an inwardly extending lip, said lips slidably engaging one another to allow the lid portion to slide back and forth over the open front of the tray portion,  
       a band shrunk around said tray and lid portions of the metal box in tamperproof relation over the front of the tray portion, said band having perforations therein for tearing the band and removing it from the metal box,  
       a folded paperboard box in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped containing said metal box, wherein said paperboard box has an open front with a front panel hinged to the paperboard box along a fold line, said front panel having a free edge shaped to provide product differentiation or product origin information, and  
       a polymeric overwrap film overwrapping the paperboard box.  
     
     
       16. The package of  claim 15 , wherein said articles are cigarettes. 
     
     
       17. The package of  claim 15 , wherein said lid portion has product differentiation indicia embossed therein. 
     
     
       18. The package of  claim 15 , wherein said tray and lid portions. each have a four-sided perimeter, said outwardly and inwardly extending lips comprising an outwardly rolled lip around the entire perimeter of the open front of the tray portion and an inwardly rolled lip on only three of the four sides of the perimeter of the lid portion. 
     
     
       19. The package of  claim 18 , wherein one side of the perimeter of hie lid portion and portions of the two sides of the perimeter of the lid portion adjacent said one side have rolled flattened edges. 
     
     
       20. The package of claim wherein  19 , the outwardly rolled lips and flattened edges of the tray and lid portions engage in sealing, metal-to-metal contact. 
     
     
       21. The package of  claim 15 , wherein said overwrap film is a transparent polymeric film, said paperboard box having product indicia applied thereto. 
     
     
       22. The package of  claim 15 , where said thin sheet of metal is a steel or aluminum alloy having a thickness between about 0.005 inch and 0.015 inch. 
     
     
       23. The package of  claim 15 , wherein a radius of curvature of the midpoint between the tray and lid portions is between about 100 and about 800 millimeters. 
     
     
       24. The package of  claim 15 , wherein said front panel covers only portion of the open front of the paperboard box.